Separable fastener



.1111, 11, 1927; musas A.- LIGHT SEPARABLE 1115111111111 F1111 oec. 2.-1925 Nr vol-Flels'.' l

non gorfcmaoarminors.

Annaud nel ammesse; .1a`2s. sam 365mm.

This invention relatesto fastening?v df vices of the general nature ofautomaticlacing devices of the general type now on the market applyingtoove'rshoes, etc., .under the trade name of Zippers.. It is, however,applicable to all sorts of articles and conditions such, for instance,for a removable' part of an automobile door, as shown in Fiure 8 of thedrawings. r

Theobject cfg the invention is tov rovide a devieof this class which ismuc more flexible about thelongitudinal center of the device, therebymaking it readily adaptable for hinge purposes' and in which the tri.;angular locking slide cbmmon to all devices of this class is muchsmaller than in structures of the prior art, thus improving theappearance of garments to which the Ide,- vice is applied.

The invention consists in mechanism cai pable of attainin the foregoingand other objects; which will be hereinafter morefully set forth in thespecification and claims;

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals represent thesarneparts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side view of a structure illustrating this invention inits preferred form, the parts beinginl fastened or closed position.

Figure 2r is a changed position viewfof the partsof Figurel showingl themethod ticular case here illustrated, the cloth ma? y of opening thedevice.

cloth 10 and l12, each carrying attached-to. ,its edge a fiexible wireor cord 14 secured in place by any suitable means. In the parterial iswrapped around the flexible meinbers 14, as shown in Fi ures 3, 4 and 5.

i the Acloth material thereon,

-of split hubs 16, spaced apart asshownin Embracing each lexi le memberv14 and is" a multiplicity Figures land 2. Extending from each ,hub 1636Aright angles thereto'is a short bracket d and on 'the end of each suchas a hinge" 26 enters and is journalled in a arm 18 of substantiallyless width than the outside diameter of the a 'ace'nt hub 16 racket arm18 is a cylindrical block 2() f-greater external diameter than thethickness of the arm 18 which carries it. The huh 16 and the block 20may be, as shown, but are not necessarily, of substantially equallexternal diameters. Each block 20 measured along its axis isapproximately one-half-preferably 'slight-.'-

ly less than, one-half-of the length 'ofthe hub 16 which carries it,this so that when the hubs 16 on oppositeflexible members 14 arestaggered, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the blocks 20 carried by therespective lhubs will interfit with each other as shown in Figure 1 andthe lower Vhalf of Figure 2 inthe rectangular spaces 22 (Fig. 1). Thisstructure has the advantage of rendering the device very flexible, animportant point in shoe, glove and similar uses. These cylindricalblocks 20' enter the spaces` 22 to such an .extent thatjn the finished,lockedstruture, all of thezlglocks 2l) are in a common central axismidway between flexible members 14. Each block 20 is hollowed out ononeI .of its non-cylindrical surfaces, in the partlcular case hereillustrated the top one,

1n a mi-spherical cavity 24. Similarly, each 20 carries on its oppositenoncylindrical surface, specifically as shown the bottom one, asemi-spherical ball 26. The parts are all so proportioned that when thedevice Vis in closed or locked -sition, as shownv in Figure 1,eachsemi-sp erical ball cavity 24 on an adjacent block. Obviously,- vinthey drawings,the ball l carried by the block 20 supported ,from oneiiexible member 14 enters the cavity 24 on .an adjacent as shown block20 sustained by Jthe opposite flexible member 14. Y

The limited thickness of the arms 18 between the vertical surfaces ofthe members 16 and 20 produces parallel recesses 'o1-track, surfaces 27entered by V-shaped, curved wedges 3,() and. 32 on therespective frontand rear locking s de 40,shown in perspective in Figure 6, provided withra handle .42 for ready mampulation` along liexihlemembers plates 34 and36 of the triangularV i los 14.", The V-shaped curved wed-ges or camsr l30 vand 32 are so shaped that' as the lock 40 moves from thelposition ofFigure 1 to that of Figure 2,1- it' moves-successive oppositelydisposedpa'irs of intertting members l620 apart as clearly shown inFigure 2, thus unlocking the fastening, and that, moved in a reverseddirection, it brings successive pairs'of these members together, causingthe automatic insertion of successive semi-spherical ball members 26 injtheir respective recesses 24.

Particular attention is called kdto the' fact that this lock 40 does notentirely embrace and operatev upon the hub 16 immediatel adjacent to thecloth to which it is attache as in prior devices, but on theother hand,

I extends only into the trackways 26 between t cloth parts to beconnted.

Particular attention is further called tothe fact that because thepivoting device: semi-spherical balls 26, and the recesses 24 in whichthey rock fact, semi-spherical bearings, much greater flexibility isattained in thel closed device about an axis extending through/thesuccessive balls 26. This flexibility aboutthis axis is Vurtlier assuredby the aet'that there is ample clearance between each two blocks 204m agiven flexible member 14 for the interiitting blocks carried byothe opsite iiexible member 14 to rock a ut sai v. axis through the centers 'ofthe 4.respective semi-spherical balls 26. In actual practice, the vpart10 rocks through 90 "in going from full line to dotted. line position ofFigure 5.-, This is of particular importance in hanging curtains and indoor equip- "ment suggested in Figure 8. In the structure of t 1sinvention, there is no danger of' a given block 20 wedging against thecorrespon 'o blocks with which it interlits and thusfa'ccl entallforcing thesemi-spherieal ball bearings o the respective interfttinrlblocks apart mi device. I

thus loosening the fasten- 'Y e structure of this invention makes a muchmore closely, knit, finished, closed structure than the devices of theprior art because of the manner in which each block 2O closelyapproaches the opposite hub 16 A of the finished closed structure. Thisis 11nportant in lexcluding moisture and the likeand also adds to theattractiveappearane of the device. TheV members 20-'-16 are'pr'ef-ferablymade vof compressible material and pressed by proper mechanismupon an adjacent clothwrapped flexible member 14 at the proper point toconstruct a .properly operated device, as shown and described.

Y Having thus described my -invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l. Adevice of the character described comprising in combination with a pairof iiexible elements to be detachably connected together, a plurality ofmembers secured to each flexible element, each of said members includinga hub portion, an arm extending from said hub portion, and a blockcarried by said` arm in spaced relation to said hub portion, the blockof each of said members having a recess adapted to receive a portion ofthe block of the other member, the arms of said members being of lessvthickness than the hubs and the blocks of said members whereby a tracksurface is provided on each member by the arm thereof between they huband block portions of the member, and a lock member tracking on saidsurfaces and held against movement ofi' of said surfaces in thedirections of said lhub and block portions by said hub and blockportions respectively. l

'2. In mechanism of the class described, a connecting device made up ofa multiplieity of connect-ing members, each compr1sing a. hub member andan arm less than half the hubs length carrying ablock which, -aneasuredlengthwise of the hub and arm, is

by saidarm, said block measured lengthwise of the hubmemberbelng of lessthan onc' described, I

half the length of vthe hubmember and being provided with a recessadapted to receive a protuberance on the block of a companion member.

4. In mechanism of the class described2 'a connecting dev-ice made up ofa multiphclty vofconnecting members, each com rising a hub member, anarm rejecting om said hub member, and a b ock carried by said arm, saidblock measured lengthwise of the hub memberbeing of less than one-halfthe 'length of the hub member .and being spaced therefrom by said'arm,said arm being of less thickness vthan the hub `member and block whereby'a track groove is formed between said hub and said block to slidablyreceive a lock member, and said block being provided'with a recessadapted to receive a.

protuberance on the block of a companion member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

V AARON LIGHT.

